Discovery Center Officials Encourage Performance Audit

POCOMOKE CITY - The Delmarva Discovery Center has retained BEACON (Business Economic and Community Outreach Network), a division of Salisbury University's Perdue School of Business, to conduct a study of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Center, its staffing needs, programs, exhibits and community relations.

In assessing the Discovery Center, BEACON will use a systematic method known as the "3E Model" to collect, analyze and use data and information to answer questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of the programs, projects, processes and policies. The third "E" is evidence to be used for planning purposes and ongoing evaluation.

According to Nancy Goldsmith, board president, "this study will help the board learn what the Center is doing well and what can be improved. We couldn't be more pleased to be working with Dr. Memo Diriker, BEACON Director, and his staff on this important and timely study.  We look forward to maximizing its findings and continuing to move the Center to its full potential."

"In both the public and private sectors, stakeholders will want to know if the programs they are funding, implementing, voting for, receiving or objecting to are actually having the intended effect" says Dr. Diriker. He goes on to say "equally important are questions such as how the program could be improved, whether the program is worthwhile, whether there are better alternatives, if there are unintendedoutcomes, and whether the program goals are appropriate and useful.  One of the primary responsibilities of decision-makers is to assess the cost effectiveness of programs. In an era of "doing more with less," there is little tolerance for ineffective programs. Public administrators use a variety of tools to evaluate effectiveness, often seeking to quantify the inputs and outputs of a particular program."

The BEACON process will take a holistic approach to all that the Center is doing and how it is performing. The findings, which will be complete in about four months, will then be shared with the public.